Curving chute apparatus and method for positioning railroad ties

ABSTRACT

A tie delivery system for use in an apparatus for continuously constructing railroad tracks and the like comprising a support structure including a conveying path, means for conveying a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties along said path and a pair of laterally spaced rails above said ties, power actuated means for sequentially securing fastening means to the ties and rails and means for delivering as assembled track section from said path, the combination which includes a tie storage area mounted on said support structure at an elevation higher than the conveying means and arranged to hold ties in a position parallel to the rails, a downwardly inclined curving chute arranged to receive a tie from said tie storage area in a position substantially parallel to the rails and deliver the tie beneath the rails on the conveyor at right angles to the rails.

United States Patent 1 Aug. 15, 1972 [72] Inventors: Lorne D. Berg; John E. Rymes, both of Calgary, Alberta, Canada [73] Assignee: Mannix Co., Ltd., Calgary, Alberta,

Canada [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 62,345

717,820 l/1903 Cunningham ..104/6 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner--Richard A. Bertsch Agents- Peter Kirby, Charles P. Curphey and Norris M. Eades [57] ABSTR CT A tie delivery system for use in an apparatus for continuously constructing railroad tracks and the like comprising a support structure including a conveying path, means for conveying a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties along said path and a pair of laterally spaced rails above said ties, power actuated means for sequentially securing fastening means to the ties and rails and means for delivering as assembled track section from said path, the combination which includes a tie storage area mounted on said support structure at an elevation higher than the conveying means and arranged to hold ties in a position parallel to the rails, a downwardly inclined curving chute arranged to receive a tie from said tie storage area in a position substantially parallel to the rails and deliver the tie beneath the rails on the conveyor at right angles to the rails.

6 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 5 m2 sum 1 nr 5 Q N MN :N MN v v d wqk 64? \F T 9 53 N; J p jwm/ I m F umw Mw l I L 9 m. [w mm. \V mm m M m 3 k m CURVING CI-IUTE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING RAILROAD TIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the construction of railroad tracks and, more particularly, to a new and improved method and apparatus for inserting ties on a device for continuously pre-constructing railroad tracks and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the construction of railroad tracks and the like, the essential physical components are rails, tie plates, spikes, ties, bars, rivets and/or bolts, nuts and washers, etc. used in various arrangements depending on the specifications of the particular track system. It is a common practice to pre-prepare a roadbed on which a track assembly is to be laid and final ballast is introduced to bring the track system to its designated grade. The ties are usually made from a non-ferrous material, such as wood, and they form the bed in which the rails are placed, with the rails and ties being joined by means of tie plates and spikes in a ladder configuration. It is, therefore, a requirement of all railroad track construction that the ties must be placed beneath the rails.

In early construction days, the ties were placed in a generally haphazard alignment along the previously prepared roadbed and were finally aligned and joined to the rails by large groups, or gangs, of men. This type of construction had, as is generally recognized in the art, a very high manhour requirement. As this high manhour requirement has become a more serious economic factor, many and varied devices have been developed to reduce the manhour requirement, including devices for distributing ties in a more uniform manner. All of these prior devices have, in effect, used a head end or pioneer car or tram with suitable devices mounted thereon. The devices mounted on the pioneer car or tram are primarily for alignment and distribution, and include, for example, cranes, jib booms and the like to convey ties and related material in front of the head end on the previously prepared roadbed. The pioneer car or tram is also used as a general transportation vehicle to carry ties, tie plates, spikes, etc. It is important to realize that all of these developments utilizing a head end or pioneer car use the railroad track that had been previously laid on the roadbed for travel. In other words, the head end car was pushed along the immediately previously laid track by means of a locomotive of such similar device.

The head end or pioneer car has also been used to lay pre-assembled sections of railroad track. An example of such a head end car for laying pre-assembled sections of railroad track can be found in Boulard, U.S. Pat. No. 2,696,791, issued Dec. 14, 1954. A system for forming these pre-assembled sections of track that can be transported to the site and laid on the roadbed is described in Kerns, U.S. Pat. No. 3,420,186, issued Jan. 7, 1969.

It has been well recognized in the art that considerable limitations are imposed when the head end or pioneer car with suitable equipment mounted thereon is used for construction of a continuing railroad track assembly. Accordingly, a new technique is now gaining quite wide popularity which utilizes an independent and separate mobile machine operating on the prepared roadbed in advance of the track assembly. In this system, track systems are pro-fabricated and can be continuously dispersed at the rear of the mobile tracklayer machine so that the mobile machine continuously moves away from the track assembly as it is being deposited on the road-bed. There are very obvious advantages to this type of construction, not the least of which is the reduction in manhour requirements. This type of construction can be utilized in open areas and it provides a greater degree of flexibility in various track specifications while at the same time being capable of laying a track in a more efficient manner than was previously possible with the head end or pioneer car construction system.

The mobile machine for assembling and laying a track on a pre-prepared roadbed normally includes an elongated conveyor adapted to have a plurality of railroad ties sequentially disposed laterally on one end thereof and thereafter have a pair of spaced parallel railroad rails deposited on top of the ties. The conveyor includes means for uniformly longitudinally spacing the ties and means adjacent the conveyor for laterally aligning the ties. The apparatus also includes gauging means for ensuring that the railroad rails are spaced a predetermined uniform distance apart. A plurality of powered spike driving hammers can be provided adjacent each of the railroad rails of the track assembly. These hammers can be longitudinally slidably mounted on overhead support structures and means can be provided for releasably connecting the hammers to the rails so that the hammers may move longitudinally with supply of ties on the mobile machine in a prepared storage area and these are usually arranged at right angles to the rails. In this manner the ties are introduced one at a time beneath the rails and are carried along by the conveyor as mentioned above. g

It has been found that this type of tie storage and insertion procedure has a number of'disadvantages which reduce the flexibility of the mobile tracklayer. With the ties stacked at right angles to the rails, in order to slide the ties under the rails it is necessary for the tie storage stack to protrude a considerably distance out to one side of the tracklaying machine. This large protrusion seriously interfers with the use of the system in many areas where tracks are laid, such as-past platforms, in tunnels, over bridges and in general areas where the track or right of way has physical confining limitations.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for inserting ties beneath the rails on a mobile tracklaying machine which will avoid the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the ties are stored in a tie storage bank on the mobile tracklaying machine in a manner parallel to the rails. This storage bank can be centered on the machine without any interferring lateral projections. Between this tie storage bank and the conveyor system for positioning the ties beneath the rail there is provided an inclined curving chute which carries a tie from the tie storage bank commencing parallel to the rails and arriving on the conveyor at right angles to the rails.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tie storage bank is preferably provided with a crowder system which continuously urges the stack of ties to one side of the storage bank. At this one side of the storage bank the ties are delivered onto the inclined curving chute one at a time, e.g., by means of an air cylinder.

' In order to assist the ties in their journey down the inclined chute and to arrive in the proper position on the conveyor, variously positioned powered rollers can be provided in the floor of the chute. These rollers are preferably positioned near the lower end of the chute, at which position the ties have started to change direction, so that as the forward end of the downwardly sliding tie passes over the rollers, this forward end is deflected laterally into a path across the vehicle toward an abutment plate at the opposite side of the device. Additional powered rollers can also be provided on .axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tracklaying machine and these continue to urge the delivered tie into engagement with the abutment. In this position, the tie comes into engagement with projecting lugs of a conveyor chain and is carried along in the longitudinal direction of the tracklaying machine in a position beneath the rails. As the ties are carried along by the conveyor they are held in the proper lateral position with respect to the rails by means of guide walls adjacent the sides of the conveyor.

This system of an incline curving chute and assisting powered rollers provides a very simple and trouble-free arrangement for delivering ties sequentially from the tie storage bank to the track assembling conveyor and it will be appreciated that this system can either be actuated manually or it can be completely automatically controlled. Moreover, it will be understood that although the system of this invention is particularly useful in combination with a mobile tracklaying machine it can also be used with a stationary continuous track assembling machine such as that described in US. Pat. No. 3,420,186.

It will also be understood that the tie inserter of this invention can be used with either plain ties or preplated ties.

A more complete understanding of the present invention and the various features thereof can be obtained from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical mobile tracklaying machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tracklaying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tie delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the tie delivery system; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 55 of FIG. 3.

. The mobile tracklaying machine as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a tractor unit I and a trailer unit 2 attached thereto. The tractor unit has a heavy steel frame 3 and is supported by large pneumatic ties 4. A platform 5 is mounted on the frame 3 and this platform includes walkways 6 for workmen and safety handrails 7. A pair of rail support structures 8 are mounted on unit 1 and these project at the forward end as shown. Rails 9 travel on rollers 10 mounted on the support frames 8 and are held against lateral movement by the upwardly projecting brackets 1 l.

The unit 1 is self-propelled and is powered by engine 12 and also includes a crane unit 13. This crane unit 13 includes a main body portion 14, a main boom 15 and a telescoping boom 16 as well as an operator station 17. This crane unit 13 serves as a general purpose lifting device for the tracklaying machine and, for instance, is used to lift bundles of ties in position as well as for positioning new rails on the tracklaying machine and for any other required lifting purposes.

Looking now at the trailer unit 2, it will be seen that it also has a main heavy frame structure 20 and travels along the roadbed 18 supported on pneumatic tires 21. The trailer unit 2 is connected to the forward unit 1 by means of a fifth wheel assembly or an equivalent.

On each side of trailer unit 2 is mounted a walkway 23 with guardrails 24. These walkways are for workmen who may for instance hand place tie plates on the ties, place and set spikes and inspect the operation.

At a higher elevation is positioned a support platform for arranging ties in longitudinally spaced relationship to receive rails and this includes a horizontal portion 25 and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 26. Travelling in this platform are a pair of endless conveyor chains 29 with upwardly projecting tie engaging lugs 29a.

A stack of ties 50 is positioned on the trailer unit 2 in parallel alignment with the rails 9. These are delivered sequentially by the curving chute 58 of this invention as described in detail hereinafter, to a position beneath the rails 9 on platform 25 where they are carried along towards the rear of the trailer unit 2 by means of conveyor chains 29 with projecting lugs 290. By means of the conveyor and associated lateral guide walls the delivered ties 32 are equally spaced longitudinally and are laterally aligned. At this point tie plates 33, if required, are set in position on the ties either manually by workmen standing on platform 23 or by means of an automatic machine.

As the ties 32 with tie plates 33 in position start down the incline section 26, they come into engagement with rails 9. In this relationship the rails, ties and tie plates pass a powered spike driving device 34 which spikes the rails 9 onto the ties 32 through the tie plates 33. This spike driving unit is shown with an operator seat 35 and a control panel 36 for manual operation but it can equally well be converted to an automatic device.

The usual lengths of jointed rails can be distributed along the right of way and picked up as needed by crane l3 and positioned on rollers 10. These rails are then bolted to the rails already travelling through the machine so that the rails continue through the machine and are assembled with the ties without interruption. The rails 9 are held in close contact with the ties 32 by means of spring loaded presser rollers 41 mounted on posts 36 and rollers 42 mounted on spike driving device 34. Although this particular embodiment is shown being used with bolted rails, it is easily adaptable for use with welded lengths of rails.

When welded lengths of rails are used, these are distributed along the right-of-way in, for instance, quarter mile lengths. As the vehicle approaches the end of one of these lengths, the crane 13 picks up the lead end of welded rail and feeds it through a system of threaders so that is passes through the same approximate position as the above mentionedjointed rail when it reaches the tie inserted mechanism.

As the entire vehicle moves forward, the completely assembled rail unit 43 eases off the back end and settles onto the right of way 18. This track assembly in position on the roadbed is supplied with ballast and tamped in the usual manner.

The tie inserter mechanism of the present invention is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

As can best be seen from FIG. 5, a tie storage bank 50 is mounted on the main frame of the trailer unit 2. This tie storage bank 50 has a main support frame 53 and is divided into two sections by means of a tie crowder plate 52. Thus, the left hand sections 54a is a reserve storage while the right hand sections 54b contains the ties actively being fed to the tie inserter. The tie crowder plate 52 is connected to a multi-length telescopic-type hydraulic cylinder 70 by means of a mounting 71 and this hydraulic cylinder 70 moves the tie crowder plate 52 so as to push the ties 54b in the direction of the arrows towards a tie inserter platform 72.

As can be better seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the tie storage bank 50 also includes platforms 55 with guardrails 64 for workmen. These platforms 55 extend laterally across the entire tracklaying machine and pro vide ready access to the entire tie storagebank 50.

As the ties 54b are being crowded by the crowder plate 52 towards the tie inserter platform 72, workmen located on platforms 55 will position individual ties on the tie inserter platform 72. In this position, the individual tie 51 is ready for delivery under the rails 9.

As will be seen particularly from FIG. 4, the tie inserter platform 72 is inclined downwardly towards the rear of the tracklaying machine and merges into a descending and curving chute 58. This chute 58 has an outer curving side wall 61 and an inner curving side wall 59. The outer side wall 61 joins with a guide wall 65 which extends longitudinally adjacent the track assembling conveyor 29. The curving side wall 59 extends across the machine to the opposite side of the conveyor 29 and is joined to an abutment plate 60. This abutment plate includes an inwardly curving portion 67 which merges with a second longitudinal guide wall 68 for the track assembling conveyor.

To ease the journey of the tie 51 in delivery, a series of free-turning rollers 79 can be positioned in the floor of chute 58. Towards the lower end of chute 58 several powered, spinning rollers 62 are positioned mounted on axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tracklaying machine. Additional powered, spinning rollers 77 mounted on axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tracklaying machine are also positioned between the two conveyors 29.

At the upper end of the tie inserter platform 72, a cylinder 56 is positioned with an extending piston 73. This piston can be actuated either automatically or manually from the control panel 75 mounted on guardrails 64. This control panel 75 canalso include controls for starting and stopping the conveyors 29 as well as the tie crowder 52 and the powered, spinning rollers 62 and 77.

With this system, when the tie 51 is in the appropriate position onvtie inserter platform 72, and the.

conveyors 29 are in position to receive another tie, the cylinder 56 is actuated either manually from controls 75 or automatically so that piston 73 gives tie 51 a sudden push, commencing its journey down the chute S8. The tie travels along pressing against curving side walls 61 as shown in FIG. 3 and as the forward end of the tie approaches the lower end of chute 58, it comes into contact with the powered, spinning rollers 62 which deflect the direction of travel of the tie into a path across the tracklaying machine towards the abutment plate 60.

As the tie arrives in this lateral position pressing against the abutment plate 60 it also comes into engagement with the additional powered, spinning rollers 77 which continue to hold the tie in contact with the abutment plate'60. In this position, the tie is engaged by the projecting lugs 29a of the conveyor chains 29 which begin carrying the tie along towards the rear of the tracklaying machine. As the tie is pulled rearwardly by the conveyor and moves off the rollers 77, a switch 76 is actuated automatically and air cylinder 63 is activated with piston assembly 74 pressing against the butt end of the tie. This ensures the final alignment of the tie against abutment plate 60. With the continued rearward movement of the tie, it follows the curving portion 67 of the abutment plate so as to adjustably pre-set the gauge of the tie requirement for the track system being constructed. As the tie moves rearwardly it is pushed in the direction of guide wall 65 by contacting the curved portion of abutment plate 60 and this also presses it against the piston 74. For this reason the alignment cylinder 63 is provided with a pressure switch 78 so that when the air cylinder reaches a predesigned pressure, the air system is evacuated and the piston 74 returns to its original retracted position in air cylinder 63.

As will be seen from FIG. 3, the rails 9 are fed along each side of the main frame 20 to be finally guided and joined by means of plates and spikes to the ties as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will be seen from the above description that the present invention provides a novel method and device for inserting ties under rail sections and means for providing alignment of the ties and bringing them into correct relationship with the rails. In using this device, the rail system can be either in sections or welded as the tie inserted devicewill work equally well with both types of systems. Moreover, it will be readily observed that the tie inserter does not specifically relate to any one particular size of tie or length of tie and all aspects of the inserting system can be adjusted for any given set of conditions that may be required.

It will also be apparent that according to the present invention, the ties are placed under the rail system in a manner suitable for rapid assembly and this provides a very efficient tracklaying system. Moreover, the manner in which the ties are delivered into the curved path and then are finally inserted enables the tie inserter to remain well within the narrow confines of the vehicles overall width, making the total machine well suited for tunnel construction, construction past platforms and other obstructions.

Finally, it will be appreciated that this device makes possible the maximum utilization of automatic equipment thus reducing manpower requirements to the absolute minimum.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for constructing railroad tracks and the like comprising a mobile support structure including a conveying path, means for conveying a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties along saidpath and a pair of laterally spaced rails above said ties, power actuated means for sequentially securing fastening means to the ties and rails and means for continuously delivering an assembled track section from said path onto a prepared roadbed, the combination which includes a tie storage area mounted on said support structure at an elevation above the rails and conveying means and arranged to hold ties in a position parallel to the rails, a downwardly inclined curving chute arranged to receive a tie from said tie storage area in a position substantially parallel to the rails and deliver the tie beneath the rails on the conveyor at right angles to the rails, said chute commencing at a position laterally outwardly displaced from one rail and terminating beneath said rails, and including a bottom support wall, an upstanding tie guide wall having an upper end at a first position laterally outwardly displaced from said one rail and curving inwardly to a lower end at a second position which is laterally outwardly displaced from said one rail, said guide wall serving to partially rotate a tie from said parallel position to said position at right angles to the rails, at least one powered roller mounted for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the rails and projecting through said bottom support wall in the region of the lower end of the guide wall to engage the forward end of a partially rotated tie travelling down the chute and deflect it into a path at right angles to the rails, means for propelling a tie down said chute prior to engagement with said roller and abutment means mounted adjacent the conveyor means on the side remote from said roller for stopping a tie being propelled across the conveyor.

2. The combination of claimed in claim I wherein the tie storage area includes a tie crowder mechanism which urges the ties into a position adjacent the chute.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tie propelling means is a pusher mechanism mounted at the upper end of the chute, said pusher mechanism being arranged to give a tie in position at the top of the chute a quick push down the chute.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pusher mechanism is an air cylinder,

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein additional powered, spinning rollers are mounted on axes parallel to the rails in the conveyor, said rollers urging a tie into engagement with said abutment.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the conveying means is a pair of endless chains with upwardly projecting uniformly spaced tie engaging lugs. 

1. In an apparatus for constructing railroad tracks and the like comprising a mobile support structure including a conveying path, means for conveying a plurality of longitudinally spaced ties along said path and a pair of laterally spaced rails above said ties, power actuated means for sequentially securing fastening means to the ties and rails and means for continuously delivering an assembled track section from said path onto a prepared roadbed, the combination which includes a tie storage area mounted on said support structure at an elevation above the rails and conveying means and arranged to hold ties in a position parallel to the rails, a downwardly inclined curving chute arranged to receive a tie from said tie storage area in a position substantially parallel to the rails and deliver the tie beneath the rails on the conveyor at right angles to the rails, said chute commencing at a position laterally outwardly displaced from one rail and terminating beneath said rails, and including a bottom support wall, an upstanding tie guide wall having an upper end at a first position laterally outwardly displaced from said one rail and curving inwardly to a lower end at a second position which is laterally outwardly displaced from said one rail, said guide wall serving to partially rotate a tie from said parallel position to said position at right angles to the rails, at least one powered roller mounted for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the rails and projecting through said bottom support wall in the region of the lower end of the guide wall to engage the forward end of a partially rotated tie travelling down the chute and deflect it into a path at right angles to the rails, means for propelling a tie down said chute prior to engagement with said roller and abutment means mounted adjacent the conveyor means on the side remote from said roller for stoppinG a tie being propelled across the conveyor.
 2. The combination of claimed in claim 1 wherein the tie storage area includes a tie crowder mechanism which urges the ties into a position adjacent the chute.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tie propelling means is a pusher mechanism mounted at the upper end of the chute, said pusher mechanism being arranged to give a tie in position at the top of the chute a quick push down the chute.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pusher mechanism is an air cylinder.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein additional powered, spinning rollers are mounted on axes parallel to the rails in the conveyor, said rollers urging a tie into engagement with said abutment.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the conveying means is a pair of endless chains with upwardly projecting uniformly spaced tie engaging lugs. 